AL wins 80pc mayor posts

Awami League has won 80 percent mayoral posts in 230 municipality polls held so far in five phases. Mayoral nominees of the AL's archrival BNP won less than five percent posts and independent mayor candidates won 14 percent posts.

However, the voter turnout in Sunday's fifth phase of the elections was the lowest among the five phases.

According to Election Commission statistics, the AL mayor candidates won in 185 municipalities, BNP nominees in 11 and independent candidates in 32. Besides, one mayor hopeful each from Jatiya Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal became victorious.

AL leaders said most of the independent candidates, who won the mayor elections, are rebels of the ruling party.

Sunday's fifth phase elections to 30 municipalities saw 28 AL mayor nominees become winners, while one from BNP and one independent candidate came out victorious. 

Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said, "Such results have proven that elections have become a one-party affair."

The EC is holding municipality elections in six phases. Polls in five phases have already been completed on December 28, January 16 and 30, February 14 and 28 respectively.

Elections in the sixth and final phase are likely to be held on April 11.

A total of 24 municipalities went to polls in the first phase, with all polling centers using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Polls were held in 60 municipalities in the second phase, including 26 using EVMs.

Sixty-three municipalities went to elections in the third phase with all of them using ballot papers. In the fourth phase, polls were held in 58 municipalities and 29 of them used EVMs.

Thirty municipalities went to polls on Sunday in the fifth phase and all of them used EVMs.

EC data shows that the voter turnout in the fifth phase of the municipal elections was the lowest.

While talking on low voter turnout, Badiul Alam said, "Voters have lost their interest in casting ballots as they have lost faith in the Election Commission. People's faith in the commission has reached 'zero' level. They are biased towards one party."

Voter turnout was 65.25 percent in the first phase, 61.92 percent in the second, 70.42 percent in the third, 65.86 percent in the fourth and 58.67 percent in the fifth phase, according to EC statistics.

The average voter turnout in the municipalities polls was 65 percent. The figure was much lower than those of the municipal polls in 2015 and 2011.

Elections to 234 municipalities in 2015 were held in one day and the turnout was around 74 percent. Polls to 250 municipalities in 2011 were held in four phases and the average turnout rate was 78 percent.

Municipality elections are held once every five years. Political parties registered with the EC can take part only in mayoral elections.

Voter turnout lowest in 5th phase